Prospect spotlight: MO2 focuses on Eury Perez, Victor Mesa Jr. and more
The Miami Marlins pitching depth is deep, and it’s at all levels. In low Class A, Jupiter Hammerheads right-hander Eury Perez is a rising prospect with top of the rotation potential
By Joe Frisaro @ManOn2nd
JUPITER, Fla. — Man On Second Baseball is back after taking a two-week vacation. We were on the road, visiting family up in North Carolina, where MO2 did attend some Minor League games.
On our way back to South Florida, MO2 stopped by Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium to catch a couple of Jupiter Hammerheads games.
Along the way, we were tracking and inquiring about some prospects, and here’s what we can pass along.
The name that has been mentioned to MO2 by many industry contacts is Hammerheaders right-hander Eury Perez. If the he’s unfamiliar to you, get to know it, because the 18-year-old has the makings of a future front line starter.
The Miami Marlins have a loaded farm system when it comes to pitching, and Perez has as much potential as pretty much anyone in the organization.
The comparison I’ve heard is he could be another Sandy Alcantara.
An international signing from the Dominican Republic, Perez stands 6-foot-8, and he’s listed at 200 pounds. The hard-throwing right-hander turned 18 on April 15. So he’s still very young. And like so many other prospects, his development was delayed a bit due to the pandemic shutting down the 2020 Minor League season.
In four starts for the Hammerheads, Perez has a 1.29 ERA with 19 strikeouts and just five walks in 14 innings. His WHIP is 0.93.
More than numbers, pay attention to quality of “stuff.” Perez’s fastball is regularly between 95-97 mph, along with a changeup at 86-88 mph, and a slider at 83-85 mph. He has a 57.1 ground ball percentage.
His ability to induce grounders is probably why some I’ve talked to compare him to Alcantara.
One of my concerns with all very tall pitchers is having the ability to repeat delivery.
That hasn’t been an issue with Perez, who not only repeats but has shown excellent fastball command.
According to MLB Pipeline, Perez is Miami’s 25th ranked prospect. Expect him to jump up on the prospect lists in the next few years.
The Marlins signed Perez for $200,000, and he’s a credit to the organization’s scouting and development departments.
Nasim Nunez and Victor Mesa Jr.: Two of the Marlins more exciting position players at Jupiter are shortstop Nasim Nunez and outfielder Victor Mesa Jr.
Nunez is a speedy switch-hitter, who grades out highly with his defensive play at shortstop. The question is whether he will hit enough to be a big league regular. If not, we’re looking at a future utility player.
Mesa is a left-handed hitting center fielder, who has been hitting third for Jupiter. He has the chance to be an impactful hitter. On Sunday, he laced a sharp single to right.
On Saturday, Nunez had two hits, and Mesa added a sacrifice fly.
The two are young.
Just 19, Mesa is holding his own performing in a league filled mostly 20 and 21 year olds, while Nunez is 20.
RHP Jeff Lindgren, Pensacola Blue Wahoos: You won’t find Lindgren on any top prospect lists, and MO2 is spotlighting the 24-year-old, not so much as an under-the-radar player, but as an example of a player who adds value to a farm system.
Credit to the Marlins amateur scouting staff to uncover Lindgren in the 24th round from Illinois State in 2019 MLB Draft. At Double-A Pensacola, Lindgren is 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings.
Nothing flashy here. His fastball is 90-91 mph, with an 82-83 mph slider. The book on Lindgren is he’s fearless, and knows how to pitch.
When you’re getting valuable innings from a 24th rounder, that makes your organization better.
Maikel Garcia, SS Columbia Fireflies: During MO2’s trip to North Carolina, we attended three Kannapolis Cannon Ballers games, the low A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. In all three games, they faced the Columbia Fireflies, the low A affiliate of the Kansas City Royals.
Fireflies shortstop Maikel Garcia is an interesting prospect who isn’t getting much attention from the major prospect services. He’s not on the Royals’ Top 30 MLB Pipeline list. That may change in the next few years.
The 21-year-old from Venezuela does not project to have much power, but he may surprise people because he does impacts the baseball, and has a chance to become solid player. Heading into Sunday, he was hitting .329 with a .858 OPS with 18 runs scored.
The Royals have a deep system, which includes their top prospect, Bobby Witt Jr., who plays short as well.
Garcia could easily slide over to second base.
Lency Delgado, 2B Kannapolis Cannon Ballers: A Cuban native, Delgado attended Doral Academy in South Florida. He was the White Sox’s fourth-round pick in 2019.
The second baseman was on the injured list at the start of the season, and has been playing regularly ever since. Like many of the Cannon Ballers, Delgado is off to a slow start, in the field and at the plate. Still, he has plenty of talent, and the ability to move up in the White Sox system.
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